Jharkhand News : Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Saturday ordered the suspension of the Civil Surgeon of West Singhbhum and several other officials after reports emerged that five children suffering from thalassemia had contracted HIV following blood transfusions at Sadar Hospital in Chaibasa.
The state government has announced ₹2 lakh compensation for each affected family and assured that the complete treatment of all infected children will be borne by the state.
The action comes in the wake of a shocking Jharkhand hospital HIV case that has exposed serious medical negligence and raised urgent concerns over blood safety in India’s public hospitals.
Taking suo motu cognizance of the incident, the Jharkhand High Court has ordered a comprehensive probe into the Chaibasa blood transfusion scandal. The court has sought a detailed report from the state health department and directed strict accountability measures to prevent further lapses.
Following the directive, a high-level medical investigation team from Ranchi visited Chaibasa on Saturday to inspect the hospital’s blood bank and paediatric units.
Five Thalassemia Patients Test HIV-Positive
During the inspection, investigators found that five thalassemia patients—all children who require regular blood transfusions—had tested HIV-positive.
Initially, only one infection had been reported, but further testing confirmed four additional cases. Officials fear that more cases could emerge as broader testing continues.
